Preventive Dental Care: Cleaning and Dental Exam in Dearborn

Your twice-yearly dental exam and cleaning is a perfect time to check in with your dentist, review your home health habits, examine your teeth and gums for any signs of decay or disease, and get professional advice to help you maintain excellent oral health.

What happens when a regular dental exam isn't part of your routine? Without a dental exam and cleaning, you are likely to experience bad breath (also known as halitosis), dental decay (cavities), and gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis). Cleanings help prevent these problems from developing, and exams help catch these and other problems, like teeth grinding, bone loss, and oral cancer, in their earliest stages.

Your Upcoming Dental Exam

When your teeth are healthy, you can smile, chew food, and speak with comfort and confidence. Often, by the time something hurts, it's progressed to the point where simple treatments won't be as effective and we have to provide more advanced treatment. Having a professional dental exam twice a year at our practice helps catch problems before they cause pain-when they are much easier to treat.

Your examination may include x-rays, a thorough visual exam, and a periodontal evaluation. We also recommend an oral cancer screening for all our patients over the age of 18. Like other dental problems, oral cancer is much easier to treat the earlier you catch it.

Periodontal Examination

Gum disease is a common problem. Nearly half of all adults over the age of 30 have some degree of gum disease. When this chronic infection is left untreated, it can damage your dental bone to the point where you may experience tooth loss. Additionally, gum disease has been linked to serious chronic systemic health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

In its early stages, gum disease is known as gingivitis. During these stages, you may experience bad breath, dental sensitivity, swelling, or bleeding when you brush your teeth. Improving your hygiene habits is usually all it takes to reverse gingivitis and restore your gum health.

If left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis. Symptoms of periodontitis include:

• Receding gums, which can make your teeth appear longer
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Sensitivity or pain when chewing
• Changes in your bite

Periodontitis requires more advanced gum disease treatment, which we can provide. Your dentist will discuss your options with you and create a personalized periodontal treatment plan to help bring the infection under control and protect your teeth.

Dental Cleanings

Just as important as routine examinations to catch dental problems, routine cleanings help prevent those problems from developing in the first place.

We are committed to providing gentle, comfortable dental cleanings. We also know that a lot of people have anxiety about dental care, including cleanings. In fact, as many as one in five U.S. adults say that they avoid routine dental care because of anxiety. If you are worried about your cleaning, please let us know. We're happy to meet with you ahead of time, discuss your concerns, and create a treatment plan to help you have a relaxing, stress-free appointment.

During your dental cleaning, we'll use professional tools along with our skill and attention to detail to examine every nook and cranny of your teeth for plaque and tartar and then thoroughly remove them, leaving your teeth sparkling.

Plaque is a sticky film made up of saliva, food particles, and bacteria. Brushing and flossing help keep plaque to a minimum, but unfortunately, there are a lot of places for plaque to hide, especially between your teeth and beneath the gum line. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, or calculus, which can only be removed by a professional using professional tools. We don't recommend trying to remove calculus by yourself since it's easy to damage your enamel using dental tools without proper training.

Plaque and calculus build-up directly leads to cavities and gum disease. The bacteria in plaque and calculus secrete acid, and over time this acid destroys your enamel, causing cavities, which must be treated with fillings to prevent further damage. When plaque and calculus build up at the gum line, gum disease is the result.

Choose Contemporary Dentistry Dearborn for Your Preventive Dental Care

We are committed to providing comfortable, gentle dentistry you can count on. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment or consultation. We look forward to providing you with quality care to help you have a smile you are excited to show off!